Tournament Format

The preliminary round will be played in 4 groups (A-D) with 4 teams each. The groups A and B form the Top Division, the groups C and D form Division I.

Playoffs starting with the quarter-finals and placement games will be played both in the Top Division and in Division I.

The last-placed team of the Top Division (loser of the 7th-place game) will be relegated to Division I for 2014. The gold medal winner from Division I will be promoted to the Top Division in 2014. The two last-ranked teams of Division I will be relegated to the qualification events.

The seeding of the groups is based according to the result of the last World Championship performance of the respective countries in the IIHF InLine Hockey Program and the qualification rounds.

The Top Division will be played in the main arena, the Division I games usually in the small arena (except final day).

Both rinks will have "AXXESS ICE COURT" floors, the official IIHF Championship Floor.

All games in the preliminary round and in the playoffs will be played with 5-minute sudden-death overtime and a penalty shootout in case of a tie. The final games will be played with a 12-minute sudden-death overtime, followed by a penalty shootout competition in case of a tie.